Oct 11, 2020(Nyamilepedia) — Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni said that Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan have agreed to jointly develop road infrastructure to boost trade between these countries and the region.
The Ugandan president said this during the celebrations that mark the country’s 58th independence day anniversary.
“We have poor infrastructure connecting our trade partners in the region. We have reached an agreement to develop infrastructure with our trade partners in the region like Congo,” said Museveni.Â
According to President Museveni, Uganda “needs trade with Congo and South Sudan,” so the income can be used to construct better roads.Â
Museveni emphasizes that building roads that will connect Uganda to eastern DRC and South Sudan would tremendously increase connectivity within the region, and as a result unlock the growth potential of these landlocked countries and the region.
The president termed Uganda as the greatest beneficially of the good roads network.
“So we’re going to do those roads because from Congo I think we’re earning $500m a year. How can you even speak; ‘why are you building the road?’ If my neighbours allowed me, am getting a lot of advantages but he still has some internal issues. That road helps us badly. The people of Eastern Congo need it but we also need it,” said Museveni.
He said a good road network connecting Uganda with eastern DRC would go a long way to help solve the question of insecurity, adding that movement of personnel and equipment to pockets of insecurity would be eased.
He further reiterated that this would make it much harder for militias to hide in these places adding that militias thrive in remote areas.Â
Uganda’s cabinet late last month approved the construction and upgrading of 223 km of road in eastern DRC to boost trade and address insecurity.
